Wrexham

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Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson hailed matchwinner Elliot Lee following Wrexham's 1-0 win at Burton Albion.

Lee scored direct from a corner in the second half, his fifth goal of the season and his first in 10 games.

"I'm pleased for Ell, I thought Ell was brilliant today," Parkinson said.

"He worked tirelessly for the team. He absolutely worked so hard for us.

"I'm pleased for him to get the headlines."

Wrexham's fourth consecutive win and leaders Wycombe Wanderers' draw against Reading moves them level on points at the top of the table.

Wrexham have signed goalkeeper Brad Foster on a short-term contract.

Foster has previously been on the books of Stoke City, Derby County and West Brom and had a loan spell with Rushall Olympic.

With Arthur Okonkwo and Callum Burton both injured, Foster has been added to Wrexham's bench for Saturday's trip to Burton Albion with veteran Mark Howard starting.

"He's been training with us for a couple of weeks helping us on the training ground because we're short and during the training week we need goalkeepers to do the shooting practices," manager Phil Parkinson said.

"He's been working with us and is a bit older and a bit more experienced than Liam Hall.

"We'd still like to bring in another keeper – the EFL rules are not very favourable and very complicated.

"I don't agree with them because when you look at it Arthur's broken his wrist, we've got Callum with a torn thigh and Luke McNicholas is injured as well.

"If that's not exceptional circumstances then I don't know what it. I think the EFL will have to have a very close look at their rules.

"But we'll get on to that tomorrow and try and get a solution to get us through to January."

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Eoghan O'Connell says Wrexham's supreme defensive record is a result of the "ethos" within Phil Parkinson's squad.

Wrexham head to Burton Albion on Saturday having kept four clean sheets in their last five League One outings.

Parkinson's men have conceded only 11 goals in 18 league games this season, meaning they have meanest defence on the third tier.

"That gives the team a good base to build from," said centre-back O'Connell.

"We work really well together. We have had some changes at the back and in goal, but it just shows the ethos of the team - we want to do it for each other, we want to defend, we want to run.

"I think the clean sheets are a mark of that for everyone."

Second-placed Wrexham are just a point clear of Birmingham City, who have two games in hand in third, meaning the pressure is on to maintain their good form against struggling Burton.

The Dragons' latest triumph came against Barnsley on Tuesday, when Ollie Rathbone struck the only goal in stoppage time to secure a third successive win.

"Against a team like Barnsley, a big club who have been in the Championship and have very high-level players at this level, to perform like we did and find a way to win is massive," added former Charlton Athletic player O'Connell.

"It's good confidence for us and we move on to Burton. We never take a game for granted. We will prepare the same as usual and go and try to put our stamp on the game."

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Ollie Rathbone says the pressure will be on Wrexham to deliver at Burton Albion on Saturday – but insists Phil Parkinson's players wouldn’t have it any other way.

Wrexham, who are second in League One, head to Burton in fine form having won three straight games at the Stok Racecourse.

Fresh from his midweek winner against Barnsley, midfielder Rathbone reckons second-from-bottom Burton will face Wrexham in relaxed mood despite their worrying league position.

"All the pressure is on us," Rathbone said. "They will see it as a bit of a free hit probably which can be dangerous.

"That pressure is part of the attraction of playing for this club - it's an honour to have it.

"I think a lot of players at mid-table clubs would do anything to be trying to compete for promotion and be second in the league in December."

Burton head into the Wrexham game on the back of a morale-boosting victory at Peterborough United on Wednesday which lifted them off the bottom of the table.

The Brewers have been without a permanent boss since the sacking of Mark Robinson last month, with Tom Hounsell in interim charge.

Former Rotherham player Rathbone says Burton will be buoyed by the arrival of promotion-chasing Wrexham at the Pirelli Stadium.

"I have played for teams who have been at the bottom of the league," he added.

"When teams at the top of the league come to town it sometimes can be easier. You feel like you can go and have a good go it."

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Phil Parkinson says Wrexham's "humble" fans will have a part to play if his team are to climb to the Championship.

Wrexham return to action against fellow League One promotion hopefuls Barnsley on Tuesday.

It is a third successive home fixture for the second-placed Dragons, who have taken 25 points from nine games on their own patch so far this season.

Parkinson, who is looking to guide Wrexham to a third straight promotion, believes the attitude of the club's fans can help the cause.

"The supporters play a huge part at home," said the Wrexham boss.

"I think they are humble. They don’t take that we are going to win for granted, they come with a feeling that 'we have got to do our bit for the lads' because sometimes it doesn’t go all your way, teams come and make a difficult.

"This place will be bouncing on Tuesday night against Barnsley. It's a big club coming to town."

Wrexham's FA Cup first-round exit meant they had the weekend off, and gave Parkinson a clear week to prepare for Barnsley after last Tuesday's hard-fought win over Lincoln City.

The Tykes, who are currently sixth, have reached the League One play-offs in each of the last two seasons having been relegated from the Championship in 2022.

Parkinson says Wrexham's attitude has been key to their successes to date this season – and that more of the same is required if they are to reach the second tier.

"As a group we have a relentlessness about us and we have to keep that going because if you want to be at the top of a division, you have to be relentless," he said.

"Barnsley have been play-offs last couple of years, been up in the Championship, but they are the tests we want."

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Wrexham will break new ground when they take on Barnsley on Tuesday with a trailblazing new fan experience – 5,000 miles away from the Racecourse.

The League One game against the Tykes is set to see another bumper crowd in north Wales as Phil Parkinson’s side look to continue their impressive League One home form.

But it will also see fans – including co-chairman Rob McElhenney - flock to a new ‘shared reality’ experience in Los Angeles to watch the game in a way far beyond watching from the local pub.

The fixture is the first EFL game to be screened at Cosm with it is 180 degree domed screen – 87 foot in diameter - that makes viewers feel as if they are pitchside.

Images from fans watching Manchester United in Premier League action on the immersive technology that simulates being at the ground went viral on social media earlier in the season.

And with baseball and NFL games having also been popular, Wrexham have been handpicked as the first from the EFL to be given the hi-tech treatment.

The EFL have backed the plans that sees "several discreet 8K cameras" placed around the Racecourse "to capture all angles, with no interruption to the regular production output."

It explains that that footage is then "stitched together to create the unique wide-angle effect that recreates being in the ground itself."

McElhenney promoted the event for the game against Barnsley, with his co-stars from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia also due to attend for the game that kicks-off at 19.45 GMT but 11.45 on America’s west coast.

US Wrexham fans will pay $11 for access at the venue that is close to the Los Angeles Rams' SoFi Stadium, one of the grounds that will be used at the 2026 World Cup.

It is the first of six EFL games that have been given permission to be screened in this way, with Wrexham’s ‘Hollywood derby’ against Tom Brady-backed Birmingham City on 23 January and the clash at Huddersfield Town on 4 March also selected.

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Wrexham make their Racecourse return tonight – where their form puts even the Premier League’s best in the shade.

And that includes top-flight leaders Liverpool, with Anfield’s Kop not seeing as much success this term as the temporary Kop at the historic north Wales ground.

Phil Parkinson’s side welcome Barnsley in League One having rested up over the weekend due to their early FA Cup exit.

Second in the table, they will be looking to make it three wins in a row after recent triumphs over Exeter and Lincoln.

But Wrexham will also be looking to continue their impressive run in front of their own fans that sees the Hollywood-backed club boasting the best home record in the Premier League and the EFL.

They are one of only nine sides across the top four divisions to still be unbeaten at home, a collection that includes Arsenal, Brighton and League One rivals Birmingham.

And despite their impressive start to life under Arne Slot, even Liverpool trail Wrexham’s home form after losing to Nottingham Forest back in September.

From their nine home league games this season, the Red Dragons have delivered 25 points, with only the goalless draw with Huddersfield denying them a maximum return.

Across the top four divisions, only Sheffield United’s Championship record at Bramall Lane is on a par with the Blades also having collected eight wins and one draw from their nine games.

But Wrexham fans have seen more goals, with Parkinson’s side scoring 20 at home compared to the 14 from Chris Wilder’s men.

Brentford’s weekend win over Leicester sees them top the Premier League home table, with 19 points from seven games. It’s an eye-catching 2.71 points per game so far, slightly behind Wrexham’s 2.77 ppg.

Wrexham’s form at home is nothing new; although they lost three league games at the Racecourse on their return to the EFL last season, it is still just four league defeats on the Mold Road over the last four campaigns.

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Wrexham's scheduled League One match away to Reading has been postponed due to a third-round FA Cup clash.

Promotion-chasing Wrexham had been due to visit the Madejski Stadium on Saturday, 11 January.

But that will have to be rearranged after 10-man Royals beat Harborough Town 5-3 after extra time in a thrilling second round tie on Sunday.

A new date for the league fixture will be confirmed in due course.

Wrexham currently sit second in League One, four points behind Wycombe Wonderers who have a game in hand.

Phil Parkinson's side return to action on Tuesday when they host sixth place Barnsley at the Stok Racecourse.

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George Dobson feels the winning mentality created during Phil Parkinson's tenure as head coach has been pivotal to Wrexham's flying start in League One.

The north Wales side have gained back-to-back promotions under Parkinson and are firm contenders to go up to the Championship.

Indeed, Wrexham sit second in League One having won 10 of their opening 17 fixtures.

And Dobson credits his side's impressive form to the vast levels of experience Parkinson has at his disposal in the dressing room.

"It's a group of winners, the team is used to winning. When you've got that momentum, it's massive," explained Dobson.

"You look at the group, it's vastly experienced. There are players that have played higher, there's players that have played a lot of games at this level and just know how to win.

"We know if we stick to our game plan and if we're at it, more than not we'll win the game.

"There's a really high bar being set from Birmingham and Wycombe at the minute, but we can only focus on ourselves, and we're doing well so far."

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Ryan Barnett has been the standout wing-back in League One so far this season, according to his Wrexham team-mate George Dobson.

Barnett has been among the star performers for Phil Parkinson's side and was recently rewarded with a new contract that runs until the summer of 2027 - with Wrexham holding the option to extend the deal by a further 12 months.

Dobson also hailed Wrexham's ability to tie Barnett down to a long-term contract as a "statement of intent".

"I don't want to blow his trumpet too much, but he's probably the best crosser of a ball that I've played with," said Dobson.

"We just know if we can get him in good positions, he's going to create chances, and long may that continue.

"I'm not surprised [Dobson was offered a new deal], he's probably been the standout wing-back in the league this season.

"When we get the ball out wide, he puts in such fantastic crosses so it's a massive coup for the club to be able to keep him for a long time.

"I think it shows a statement of intent from the club to be able to keep your big assets."

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Phil Parkinson says he must "protect" Matty James after the midfielder's impressive start to life at Wrexham.

James joined Wrexham in October having been a free agent since leaving Bristol City in the summer.

He made his first league start for the Dragons in last weekend's impressive win over Exeter City, playing 89 minutes, and kept his place for the midweek triumph over Lincoln City.

Parkinson admitted Wrexham's staff had to "think long and hard" whether to play James on Tuesday given that he has had little football since his Ashton Gate exit.

But the Wrexham boss felt they made the right call after the former Leicester City player impressed again as he played 72 minutes against the Imps.

"He said he felt OK and it was a huge performance from him - I thought he was outstanding," Parkinson said.

"We knew we'd have to bring him off because we don't want to get him injured - we need to protect him.

"But I thought his contribution was really good. He got stronger in the second half, he was dictating the game for us, not just with the ball but without it."

Wrexham have the weekend off after their early FA Cup exit, giving James a chance to rest up before they return to League One action with a home game against Barnsley next Tuesday.

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Matty James is keen to prove the "doubters" wrong by helping Wrexham to a third consecutive promotion this season.

The 33-year-old midfielder is on a short-term deal with Phil Parkinson's side until January after being released by Championship Bristol City.

Despite being vastly experienced, James believes age was a barrier when it came to finding a new club

"I want to prove people wrong. When I joined I had a lot of people who supported me, but a lot of doubters as well putting a bit of stigma on my age which I completely disagreed with," he said.

"I know my capabilities... I know how my body feels and I know what I can do."

After making two substitute appearances, James has started the last two games in the wins against Exeter City and Lincoln City.

Wrexham remain second in the League One table, and James hopes he has done enough to keep his place in the team.

"Just to be back out there playing is unbelievable for me. To be getting wins is also an amazing feeling," he said.

"It's everything I was fighting for during the months I was off.

"It's almost like a pre-season for me, but I'm playing at a high level and I'm doing as much as I can to recover between games.

"The motivation now is to stay in the team and win football matches.

"I'm grabbing this opportunity with both hands really, and trying to take the team to the next level."

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Former Wrexham defender Mark Creighton believes they can achieve an "astonishing" third successive promotion to reach the Championship next season.

Creighton was at the Stok Racecourse to see Phil Parkinson's side underline their credentials in a 1-0 League One win over Lincoln City on Tuesday night.

Wrexham needed a slice of fortune to hang on to second place, as Lincoln defender Tendayi Darikwa diverted James McClean's shot into his own net.

"The winning goal, as it turned out, had a little bit of luck to it but it was coming. We'd really started the second half very well - we applied a lot of pressure," Creighton told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"Lincoln were very, very good, you know, they came and they had a right go at us, but they were also very robust out of possession and made it difficult for us.

"But we kept hammering the door again. We've got James McClean, who was announced as man of the match. And you know, that could have been four or five or six players that got that last night for me, but he did what he did all night, kept putting that ball across the box, and at some point something goes for you. So it was a pleasing display."

Creighton said Wrexham had to be "robust" against a "tough team".

He added: "We had to be good in possession, we had to be good out of possession, and I think we ticked all the boxes. Last night might not have been pretty at all times, but we were certainly super-efficient."

Leaders Wycombe Wanderers and third-placed Birmingham City have games in hand over Wrexham.

But Creighton says Wrexham are capable of finding themselves in the Championship, English football's second tier.

"If that happens, it's not bad is it? I think it's absolutely astonishing, in all honesty, to go two promotions back to back and now are we dreaming of a third? Is there a chance of a third? I think there is, at the moment, from what we've seen so far," he said..

"Whilst we're not always pretty, we always seem to find a way to grind a result out, and that is a sign of a really good side. So if we can keep doing this… if you can get through the busy Christmas period and into the New Year, and you are still there or thereabouts, we've got a great chance.

"And that is astonishing to even say."

However, Wrexham's progress this season has taken Creighton aback.

Asked if he believed at the start of the season they could push for promotion, he replied: "I said 'no, I didn't' straight off the bat because we were almost running before we could walk, but we're still sprinting, which is brilliant for us."

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Lewis Brunt has spent much of this season watching Wrexham rather than playing for them, but has already seen enough to convince him that Phil Parkinson's side can compete for promotion.

Wrexham are second in League One after bouncing back from defeat at Stockport with an emphatic win over Exeter City over the weekend.

Next up for the Dragons are seventh-placed Lincoln City on Tuesday night – and Brunt says Wrexham believe they can compete with any opponent in the third tier.

"If you look at the squad we have got, some of the names in there and some of the players, it's just as good as anyone in the league," the centre-back said.

"Every single player can come in and put on a performance so it's no real shock to me where we are in the league."

Brunt made his full league debut for Wrexham against Exeter having been forced to wait for opportunities since signing from Leicester City in the summer.

The 24-year-old says he has been assured by boss Parkinson that he will have a big part to play at the Stok Racecourse.

Having impressed in the Exeter win, Brunt will hope to keep his place against a Lincoln side who saw a six-game unbeaten run end against leaders Wycombe last Saturday.

"There's no easy fixture in this league," Brunt added. "We know what we are up against but we will be right and ready."

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Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson will be looking to back up their 3-0 win at home to Exeter when they host Lincoln City at the Stok Racecourse on Tuesday.

The Imps are just a place outside the League One play-off spots, having lost 3-2 to leaders Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.

Wrexham are four points behind Wycombe in second, having played one game more.

"It could be a great game, Lincoln, because I saw them play while we were looking at Exeter," said Parkinson.

"They are a physical team, a bit different to Exeter, but we’ll be ready for that. We’ll dust the lads down, get them recovered."

Before Saturday, Wrexham had suffered a dip in form with a narrow win over Mansfield in between a draw at Charlton and defeat at Stockport County, as well as an FA Cup exit at Harrogate.

"We can’t wait to run out here again on Tuesday night," said Parkinson.

"It was important that we got back to a more consistent level of performance across the 90 minutes.

"Mansfield, periods of the game were good, but then there were other periods where we were sloppy in possession."

Parkinson, however, felt Saturday's display against Exeter was much closer to their best form.

"We had real control, that was very important for us to get back and put in a performance like we done earlier in the season, the Reading game, the Shrewsbury game, that was a similar type of performance today."